Giada De Laurentiis' Party-Perfect Recipes

Check out Giada's best crowd-pleasing recipes for cocktails, easy appetizers and more party-ready picks.

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Photo By: Tara Donne

Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Bruschetta

Not just for caprese salads, this tried-and-true ingredient trio pairs well with Giada's two-bite bruschetta, which can be ready to eat in only 30 minutes. Before Giada adds the tomatoes and basil, she moves the cheese-topped toast to the oven for just a few minutes so the mozzarella becomes slightly melted.

Get the Recipe: Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Bruschetta

Sgroppino

Made with only four simple ingredients, this boozy frozen beverage gives you a sweet taste of Italy.

Get the Recipe: Sgroppino (Italian Cocktail)

Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil

Giada gives you options here. You can make homemade pizza dough from scratch, but store-bought dough works just as well. Instead of spreading sauce over the dough, you bake fresh tomatoes right into it!

Get the Recipe: Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil

Mini Italian Club Sandwiches

This bite-sized sandwich is layered with egg, turkey, cheese and bacon. Each slice of focaccia bread is grilled for a few minutes until golden brown and brushed with pesto before the assembling begins.

Get the Recipe: Mini Italian Club Sandwiches

Sweet Pepper Crostini

Crispy toasted baguettes topped with sweet peppers and melted mozzarella make an ideal appetizer for a crowd.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Pepper Crostini

Raspberry-Cherry Chocolate Poppers

This treat gets its name from the cherry Pop Rocks candy that is hidden in the bottom of each ganache cup.

Get the Recipe: Raspberry-Cherry Chocolate Poppers

Roasted Carrot Hummus

Elevate your chip-and-dip game with this veggie-forward take on a party classic. Roasting the carrots first makes them tender and easier to blend with chickpeas, garlic and spices.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Carrot Hummus

Bellini Bar

For an easy-does-it brunch cocktail, set up a help-yourself bar complete with three homemade fruit purees — peach, strawberry and blueberry — and Prosecco, and let your guests fix their own bubbly sippers.

Get the Recipe: Bellini Bar

White Bean Dip with Pita Chips

Giada's fuss-free dip, featuring creamy cannellini beans and fresh garlic, comes together easily in the food processor and is best served alongside her crispy-crunchy herb-laced baked pita chips.

Get the Recipe: White Bean Dip with Pita Chips

Mascarpone Cheesecake with Almond Crust

Wow a crowd with this graham cracker-crusted cheesecake, made with a rich duo of cream cheese and mascarpone in the filling. For an over-the-top finish, drizzle the cake with a warm mixture of chocolate-hazelnut spread and cream.

Get the Recipe: Mascarpone Cheesecake with Almond Crust

Flat Iron Steak with Red Wine Sauce

Tender, juicy beef is brought to the next level of indulgence when served with a buttery red wine sauce laced with oregano.

Get the Recipe: Flat Iron Steak with Red Wine Sauce

Apple Fritters

Sprinkled with lemon sugar, these light, airy beauties are ready to eat in only 35 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Apple Fritters

Stuffed Mushrooms

An eat-with-your-hands appetizer that's both easy to make and elegant, Giada's two-bite stuffed mushrooms are filled with cheesy, garlicky breadcrumbs and baked until tender.

Get the Recipe: Stuffed Mushrooms

Grilled Lamb Chops

Fresh garlic, a duo of fragrant herbs and a pinch of cayenne is all it takes to create a bold marinade for Giada's juicy lamb chops.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Lamb Chops

Classic Italian Turkey Meatballs

After baking her ground-turkey-and-turkey-sausage meatballs in the oven, Giada transfers them to a tomato-basil sauce so they can take on the hearty flavors.

Get the Recipe: Classic Italian Turkey Meatballs

Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze

Giada's light, bright cookies, which boast a 5-star rating and nearly 1,000 fan reviews, are made especially moist by the addition of creamy ricotta in the dough.

Get the Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze

Fried Zucchini

Breaded with a mixture of panko and nutty Parmesan cheese, these fuss-free zucchini fries turn out golden brown and crispy on the outside and warm on the inside.

Get the Recipe: Fried Zucchini

Osso Bucco

The key to guaranteeing fork-tender veal shanks is letting the meat cook slowly and at a low temperature in a savory white wine-herb sauce.

Get the Recipe: Osso Buco

Want More of Giada's Party Picks?

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